The Boy With The Red Sunglasses

Evelyn James is just an average teenage girl - clever, relatively popular, friendly. But after the unbelievable events of her prom night, she manages to fall into more and more trouble, and there is only one person who understands - the boy with the red sunglasses.

*Basically, an X-Men fanfic set in present day, explaining Scott's first experiences with his mutation and the X-Men. I've been told it makes total sense even if you don't know anything about X-Men! So, please check it out. :)*

63. Falling

Falling so far should be scary. But I am not scared. I'm thrilled. This feels spectacular. I don't care about where I land, or what happens when I do. I can't help but laugh. I've never felt so alive. My vision is filled with the flames that are now one with my body.Splash! I hit the water. I scream as I sink deeper, but of course now sound comes out. What is happening? No! It can't take my power! I have to find a way to burn again! I swim to the surface. I'm in a river. The current pulls me back towards to town I was just taken from. I flick my head around desperately. Where are my flames? I need the power! I scream in frustration. My sane thoughts slowly start to return now. What the hell did I just do? Oh god! Warren! I hurt him. He could be dead. Oh crap. I have to find him, now! I swim quickly to the riverbank and pull myself up onto the dirt. "Warren!" I shout desperately, running back up the riverside. "I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to- It wasn't me- I- Where are you?" I hear a low groan. And notice a hunched figure on the riverbank ahead of me. "Warren!" I exclaim. I fall down beside him. He flinches away. "Just- just stay away! Please!" He begs. "No, Warren, that wasn't me! I just-" "Get away from me!" He shouts, clutching his bleeding, dripping wet wing. Oh god. I nod and stand slowly before backing away from him. I hide behind a nearby tree and watch him. I can't leave him here injured and alone. "Scott! Please say you can still hear me?" I focus my thought until it is as strong as I can muster. "Thank god!" His voice pops into my head, making me sigh with relief. "Where are you?" "North river bank, just out of town. Hurry! Warren's hurt! I- I hurt him." It is difficult to admit that I did that to a friend. "We're on our way." In less than a minute, the X-Jet lands softly on the grass next to the river. Scott, Bobby and Jean rush out and run over to Warren. "Where's Evelyn?" Scott sounds panicked. I stay hidden behind the tree. "I have to find her. You two get Warren to the jet." Once the others have Warren half way up the steps into the jet, I rush out and take Scott into my arms. "I'm so sorry!" I sob. "I didn't mean to! I just- It was too much, and I-" "Shhh. It's over." He strokes my hair. "You're okay." "Warren's not!" I mumble between sobs. "I could've killed him! I could've killed everyone! I thought I could control it... I couldn't, Scott. I couldn't." "I know. We pushed you too hard. I pushed you too hard. I'm so sorry." He kisses my forehead. "Please come home?" "I- I can't. Look what I just did! I'm a danger!" I could hurt anyone at any time. Why would he want me anywhere near him? "Warren is terrified of me! He hates me!" "It'll pass. You scared him, that's all. You just need to give him some time." He steps back slightly and looks down into my face. "We all know that wasn't you." "But what if it was? What if this happens again? What if next time I kill someone? If wouldn't be difficult, when we were on the street my mind was telling me to set you alight, to watch you burn. That's what I wanted to do." I confess. "But you didn't. You contained it." If my confession freaks him out, he doesn't show it. "Please, just come to the jet." He offers me his hand and I take it. My mind is buzzing with thoughts of what just happened, some good, some bad. As much as guilt of what just happened will stay with me forever, part of me still finds the thought of it exhilarating. That much power was just... Wow. The fire was so addictive. The flames- I needed the flames to be everywhere. My flames. As we enter the jet, everyone inside falls silent. All eyes lock on me and I drop my head. I then notice Warren lying on some sort of modern stretcher towards the back of the jet. Jean kneels protectively beside him. I rush over to him before I can stop myself. "Is he okay? Please tell me he's okay?" I beg, falling down beside him. "You bitch! How dare you come anywhere near him after what you've done!" Jean hisses and slaps me hard across the face. "You don't have the right to talk to any of us now!" "Jean!" Scott gasps. "It wasn't her fault! She only-" "Jean." The professor's low voice speaks up as he appears beside us. "You of all people should know that anyone can do strange things when under the influence of a power they cannot control."Her of all people? Why? What's that about? I don't get it. I shoot Scott a quizzical look and he simply shrugs in reply. "You're right, professor. I'm sorry." She drops her head. He nods curtly. "Jean, I promise, I would never have even considered hurting Warren normally." My voice is weak. "I know. I- I'm just not sure we can be friends right now." Were we even friends before? Or just teammates? "Okay. At least tell me how Warren is?" I beg. "He's gunna be okay. We'll treat him properly when we get back, for now we've given him a minor sedative and put some antiseptic on the wound." Her response is monotone and she does not look up at me. I nod silently before slowly making my way to my seat. As I pass Bobby, I realize that this must've have affected our relationship. "Bobby, I-" He looks away from me. He doesn't want to know me. I sigh and sit down as the jet takes off. I've the trust of nearly all my team today. And it's all his fault. John. I'm going to make him pay for what I've done.